The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it has received 12,580 acres of wetlands from The Conservation Fund. This land will become part of the Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge, which is within the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge complex on the tip of the Alaska Peninsula. Since 1999, the Conservation Fund has donated a total of 71,511 acres to this refuge complex.
Situated between the Bering Sea and the Pacific Ocean, the Izembek Refuge complex is comprised of three separate wildlife refuges (Alaska Peninsula, Becharof, and Izembek). The newly-protected lands encompass dozens of lakes, ponds and marshes that provide prime habitat for migratory birds such as black brant, emperor geese and the threatened Steller's eider. The area also covers more than 100 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline and over 200 miles of fish streams and rivers that teem with five species of Pacific salmon.
According to the Fund, the lands were purchased from an array of Native village corporations, with the final transaction involving the Pribilof village of St. George.
We really appreciate the cooperation and partnership we have with The Conservation Fund on this and other efforts across Alaska," said Tom Melius, regional director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
